Marjan Laaper

publieke ruimte, internationaal, installatie, Conceptueel, beeldhouwen, Audiovisueel

Marjan Laaper 1971, graduated from WDKA’s Fine Arts Department in 1994. She was educated at the Maryland College of Art, Baltimore, USA and the Rijksakademie Amsterdam, NL. She received grants to work in the USA, Iceland,Japan and China.

She specializes in large-scale video projections, installations and Public Art Commissions. Simple everyday phenomena are being presented within a poetic, sometimes philosophical framework. General human experiences, human thinking, nature, and the experience of everyday life are starting points in her work. Often there is a tension between contradictory subjects and symbols like beauty and danger, the immaterial and the transitory trust and alarm. The life cycles of humans and nature plays an important role in her video-work and installations. The work does not give clear answers, but shows recognizable elements that generate questions.

Her work was shown in Museums and Art Centers internationally.

**Video Installation: “Encounter” at the facade of Museum W**

**Video Installation: “Encounter” at the Lowlands Festival, Biddinghuizen** - Lowlands is a three-day festival packed with music, theatre, film, comedy, literature, science and visual arts. The festival takes place annually in Biddinghuizen, Flevoland. The work shows a larger-than-life Bengal Eagle Owl looking out over the festival grounds. The bird sits on a tree trunk with its back turned to the viewer. The feathers on its back are a camouflaged version of a face. Over time, the owl turns to the viewer and observes the terrain with its bright orange eyes. It is a game of watching and being watched. The owl appears to be a guardian who explores his new environment and confronts the viewer with his penetrating gaze. The title; “Encounter” refers to an encounter with another being. This encounter transcends the purely intellectual and is above all a poetic encounter.

**Video Installation: “A sense of wonder” .** - The video installation: “A sense of wonder” at the Juliana Park in Schiedam, shows a Chinese porcelain sculpture of a female of a female figure looking at a snail on her hand. The snail explores its surrounding with amazement. Together, they seem to form a new small universe, which needs to be explored and discovered. The female figure is dressed in an early Qing costume (1644). The statue is from the late twentieth century and glorifies both the past and the bond that man and nature can have.

**Exhibition: “Longing for Paradise” at NL=US Art.** - The exhibition: “Longing for Paradise” shows video projections in which animals play the leading part. The videos are filmed from 1 point of view. The videos use “congealed time”; ephemeral moments are stretched into an everlasting “state of being”. Due to the often-dark background of the video projections, these animals melt into the new environment. They are often integrated into the architecture. The animals in this exhibition have become metaphors and symbols.

**“Ever Changing Light” at the Julianapark Schiedam.** - The video installation: “Ever-changing light” shows a round shape of light. Associations with planets alternate with images on a micro level such as cells and molecules. The creation is depicted by means of a changing play of light from abstract to figurative forms. The material and the immaterial come together. The work evokes associations with growth, change and transformation.

**“Ramses Shaffy, lifelines” at Subway Station Vijzelgracht, North South Line Amsterdam.** - For a public art competition in honor of the Dutch chanter and actor Ramses Shaffy (1933-2009) Marjan Laaper designed a LED installation Staged behind the large glass wall above the escalators in the metro station Vijzelgracht. Having read the biography of Ramses Shaffy she decided to map 28 influential People throughout his life. Each person is represented with his/ her own lifeline. The lifelines highlight the important moments in each individual’s life in relationship to Ramses Shaffy. The lines are made of small LED’s that light each line separately and together resemble metro lines. When lit jointly a portrait of Ramses Shaffy becomes visible.

**Public video Installation: “The Gift” at Yanwu Road Xiamen, China** - The work “The Gift” shows two hands that are filmed from above. The hands are close together as if they were asking for something. After a while a small bird lands into the hands and makes it his residence for a short while. After some time the bird flies away, leaving the hands waiting for the next gift. The work “The Gift” could be seen on a 6.45 by 15.5 meter LED screen. The LED screen is situated on Yanwu Road above “Fu Wan Bang” shopping mall opposite Xiamen University West Gate and nearby Nanputuo Temple in Xiamen, China.

**Permanent video Installation; “Cocoon”** - at the Pieter de Hooghweg Rotterdam, HRO Art Collection.

**Video Installation: "Reflection".** - 3 sleeping faces with different ages ranging from 5, 50 and 80 years of age, change into each other every 8 minutes.

**Video Installation: “Klipspringer”** - at Julianapark Schiedam, The Netherlands

**Video Installation: “The Raft”, Exhibition: "never ending stories".** - "The Raft" is a triple video projection. On the left a boat floats away from a child that hanging on a piece of rope above the water. From the moment the boat leaves the child it looks like there is no way back. Some children on the raft try to bring the boat back. Sometimes others occupy them or they decide to play along with the other children. Mutual dependency, joy but also frustration can be seen in a chaotic play. A wide spectrum of human behaviour becomes visible. Acts that turnover seamless from playing into romping, fighting, surviving, losing, abandoning, struggling and vanquishing. Sometimes heroic acts take place, when small children go into the water to push the raft back to the other side where the child is waiting for help. Because the child on the left is in need of help, the acts of the other children become moral dilemmas. What do the children chose to do? Will they act heroic or do they avoid the situation? Water is often a symbol of the big unknown, full of secrets. During their journey the children have to make many choices, that makes them aware of their strong and weak sides. Characteristics like egoism, laziness, cowardice, and disinterest, but also pride, courage, and heroism are being challenged. The struggle leads to moral conflicts and strong human emotions.

**Video Installation: Plants** - Video Installation: “Plants” shows video projections of poppy and a thistle plants. The plants are growing towards the light. They are inhabited by insects as the stern carries the weight of the bud. They are slightly moving, contemporary variations of a flower still-life that because of the Clair obscure light reminds us of 16th and 17th century painting. As in the traditional flower still life the symbolic meaning is obvious, (beauty, purity, mortality). The poppy is a very fragile flower that withers immediately after it’s picked. At the same time it is a pioneers plant with seeds able to germinate years later preferably in new soil.

**Installation: "Shadow" at the Vondelpark in Amsterdam** - "Shadows" is a light projection on an 8-meter high screen at the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. At the edge of a large pool you could see a green image of the park at night, resembling something seen through night-vision goggles: so that details that normally cannot be seen become visible. On and between the trees you can see all kinds of shadows. Mysterious dark spots eventually resolve themselves into a shadow play. Finally you can see what caused these shadows: a deer trying to find his way through the trees.

**Exhibition: “The Attic of Memory” at the 'Stedelijk Museum Schiedam** - The Exhibition: “The Attic of Memory” at the 'Stedelijk Museum Schiedam shows an installation of six video projections. Starting point was the attic where the installation was situated. The attic is a place where old things are being stored and memories are captured. An attic is a place where you can search for things from the past. The 6 projections form some sort of life cycle. Different aspects of life are being shown.

**Permanent Public Art work: "The remembrance of dewdrops" at the city center of Heerhugowaard.** - Marjan Laaper got a commission to make a permanent public artwork for the city of Heerhugowaard in the North of the Netherlands. The artwork had to be related to the new built Cityhall and the history of the city Heerhugowaard. The region of Heerhugowaard used to be covered by water. Marjan Laaper was inspired by the idea that water never gets lost but transforms and reappears into another shape, like raindrops or dewdrops. Since a city hall is a place where people go to for the registration of their children after birth, to get married or go for registration after their loved ones have died. She wanted to show different stages of live in the work. She decided to make a transparent photo between glass of a family of Heerhugowaard. In the photo 4 water drops reflect 4 stages of life; birth, youth, adulthood and old age. Size: 400 x 800 x 15 cm.

**Public Art Commission for the City Hall of Dronten** - Marjan Laaper developed a sketch design for an artwork in the newly renovated town hall in Dronten, The Netherlands. The artwork had to reflect the identity of Dronten and make a connection between the people who first reclaimed, developed and lived in Flevoland, the so-called “polder pioniers” and today's pioneers. The artwork was designed for the vide in the new public area in the City Hall. The location for which the work was developed is the 11-meter high void in the central public hall. This void is the space enclosed by the 3 connecting floors above. The vide has an intense experience value due to its height and the many different viewpoints from which you can view the artwork. In the artwork, the personal history of the inhabitants is connected to the fascinating history of the area. The artwork consists of a hanging shape in the middle of the 11-meter-high loft. This shape, which hangs close to the ceiling of the loft, has the contours of the province of Flevoland. The interplay of lines visualizes a map on which Dronten is visible. Wires are attached to this shape, which connect the shape underneath with “hanging water drops”. In every "water drop" you can see "reflections"; photographic images showing the history, identity and the life course of the residents of Dronten. In every “waterdrop” there is a moment recorded from time. Both historical images of the first inhabitants of Dronten and more recent images can be seen. A diverse number of images of people depicting the wide variety of residents. From young to old and at all stages of their lives. Together all these “waterdrops” form one large water shape hanging in space. From a distance you can see an overview of the "water shape" that is connected by many lines to the form above. As you get closer you see that the water shape is made up of many small waterdrop shapes. Different moments in time can be seen in every drop of water. The many life cycles and histories of the inhabitants are reflected in the different waterdrops. If you stand under the many water drops and look up, the contours of “the new (Flevo-) land” becomes visible, rising from the many water drops below. In this work, the personal life cycles and history of the inhabitants of Dronten are connected to the fascinating history of the area that literally rose from water. The work also refers to the location of Dronten and Flevoland below sea level. Standing under the artwork, you can see through the water droplets in the 11-meter-high void, the contours of “the new land”.

Tentoonstelling: "Beestachtig" in Museum W

Datum: 19-04-2025 t/m 14-09-2025

Locatie: Museum W

In samenwerking met: Museum W

Tentoonstelling: BEESTACHTIG - over de relatie tussen dier en mens
Van 19 april t/m 14 september 2025
Deelnemende kunstenaars zijn Charlotte Dumas, Bart Houwers, Marjolijn Mandersloot, en Marjan Laaper, aangevuld met werken uit de collectie van Museum W, Bonnefanten in Maastricht en Historiehuis Roermond.

https://www.museumw.nl/beestachtig-over-de-relatie-tussen-dier-en-mens.html

Video Installatie: "Encounter" Op de facade van Museum W

Datum: 24-02-2025 t/m 14-09-2025

Locatie: Museum W

In samenwerking met: Museum W

Marjan Laaper - Encounter
Van 24 februari t/m 14 september 2025

Een kijkspel tussen publiek en twee reusachtige Oehoes
Vanaf 24 februari presenteert Museum W in Weert het videowerk Encounter van kunstenaar Marjan Laaper. Het werk is te zien op de grote videoschermen die bevestigd zijn aan de gouden gevel van het museum.

https://www.museumw.nl/marjan-laaper-encounter.html

Rolling Snowball 16 at the Contemporay Art Museum Ars Longa, Djupivogur, Iceland

Datum: 06-04-2024 t/m 25-08-2025

Locatie: Contemporay Art Museum Ars Longa, Djupivogur, Iceland

In samenwerking met: Contemporay Art Museum Ars Longa, Djupivogur, Iceland, CEAC, Chinese european art Center, Xiamen

Groeptentoonstelling: "Rolling Snowball 16" in ARS LONGA contemporary art museum te Djúpivogur. De opening is op 6 juli 2024.
Deelnemende kunstenaars zijn: Casper Braat, Dirk van Lieshout, Erika Streit,Heiòdis Hólm Guõmundsdóttir, Hester Oelemans, Jaring Lokhorst, Joe Keys, Kan Xuan, Kimball Holth, Kristján Guõmundsson, Lin Luanchong, Maria-Magdalenda Lanchi

https://arslonga.is/

5 jaar Noord /Zuid Lijn Kunstcollectie

Datum: 02-12-2023 t/m 02-12-2023

Locatie: Metrostation Vijzelgracht

In samenwerking met: Qkunst, Noord/Zuidlijn Amsterdam, GVB, Gemeente Amsterdam

Alweer bijna vijf jaar geleden werd de Noord/Zuidlijn geopend. In de achtste aflevering van de videoserie Ruimte voor kunst gaat Véronique Baar in gesprek met Marjan Laaper, maker van het werk ‘Levenslijnen’, een ode aan Ramses Shaffy, bij station Vijzelgracht.

https://vimeo.com/889417485

Lowlands

Datum: 17-08-2023 t/m 20-08-2025

Locatie: Lowlands Festival , Biddinghuizen

In samenwerking met: Lowlands Festival

De videoinstallatie: "Encounter" werd getoond tijdens het Lowlands festival in Biddinghuizen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JBNRtKkCKI

Can Reon Festival

Datum: 27-05-2023 t/m 27-05-2023

Locatie: Tiana

In samenwerking met: CAN REON

Two video installations: "Encounter" and "Breathe" can be seen at the Can Reon Festival 2023. CAN REON presents its first festival in the hills above Tiana, Barcelona area, Spain. On Saturday May 27, contemporary music, dance, visual arts will meet and interact with the wild and natural location.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHwQjGQ1CHE

NL=US Art Exhibition

Datum: 26-03-2023 t/m 30-04-2023

Locatie: NL=US Art gallerie Rotterdam

In samenwerking met: NL=US ART

Tentoonstelling
Opening: Zondag 26 maart van 14.00 – 17.00
met alle kunstenaars van de NL=US galerie op de nieuwe locatie aan de Mauritsweg 55 in Rotterdam.

De tentoonstelling duurt tot 30 april 2023.
Contact:
info@nlisus.com
www.nlisus.com

https://nlisus.com/?page_id=121260

Winterlicht Festival

Datum: 15-12-2022 t/m 17-12-2022

Locatie: Julianapark Schiedam

In samenwerking met: Gemeente Schiedam

WINTERLICHT
LICHTKUNSTFESTIVAL
15, 16, 17 DECEMBER 2022
JULIANAPARK SCHIEDAM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbjUPIOVfbs

Wild Summer of Art 2

Datum: 06-08-2022 t/m 04-09-2022

Locatie: BRUTUS

In samenwerking met: Brutus Rotterdam

Groepstentoonstelling met Rotterdamse kunstenaars

https://brutus.nl/en/programme/current/wild+summer+of+art+part+ii/

Tentoonstelling: Voorlopers in de tuinen van Paleis Soestdijk

Datum: 12-05-2022 t/m 14-08-2022

Locatie: Tuinen van Paleis Soestdijk

In samenwerking met: Paleis Soestdijk

Tentoonstelling VOORLOPERS in het Park van Paleis Soestdijk.

De deelnemende kunstenaars zijn
Atelier Van Lieshout (AVL), David Bade, Cecilia Bengtsson, BuroLdR, Iliada Charalambous, Ivan Cremer, Bram Ellens, Groenewoud/Buij, Bob Hendrikx, Marjan Laaper, Silvia Martes, Ingrid Mol, Zeger Reyers, Lennart Lahuis, Birgit Verwer.

https://www.paleissoestdijk.nl/tentoonstelling-voorlopers-in-het-park-van-paleis-soestdijk-geopend/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOWL90L6I6s

Exhibition at the Xiamen Powerlong Art Center, China

Datum: 30-04-2022 t/m 11-06-2022

Locatie: Xiamen Powerlong Art Center, China

In samenwerking met: CEAC, Chinese European Art Center

Groeps tentoonstelling in het Powerlong Art Center in Xiamen

https://www.ceac99.org/11986/exhibitions-and-events/

Mörkret, Arvika Ljus

Datum: 30-10-2021 t/m 05-12-2021

Locatie: Arvika city center

In samenwerking met: Arvika Ljus

Arvika Ljus! is a walk along light works of art in Arvika center, organized by the cultural association Kolonin.

October 30 - December 5, 2021

https://www.arvikaljus.se/en/arvika-ljus-2021/

BIG ART

Datum: 30-09-2021 t/m 03-10-2021

Locatie: Hembrugterrein

In samenwerking met: BIG ART

BIG ART is een pop-up platform voor XL kunstwerken en enorme designobjecten van gevestigde namen en opkomende talenten. Elk jaar strijkt BIG ART neer in een bijzonder gebouw in of rond Amsterdam waar tientallen galeries en kunstenaars de ruimtes vullen met een unieke mix van monumentale schilderijen en tekeningen, grote sculpturen en foto’s, betoverende lichtkunstwerken en indrukwekkende interactieve installaties.

https://bigart.nu/

Solo tentoonstelling: "Longing for paradise" NL=US Art

Datum: 20-03-2021 t/m 24-04-2021

Locatie: NL=US Art

In samenwerking met: NL=US Art

The exhibition: “Longing for Paradise” shows video projections in which animals play the leading part. The videos are filmed from 1 point of view. The videos use “congealed time”; ephemeral moments are stretched into an everlasting “state of being”. Due to the often-dark background of the video projections, these animals melt into the new environment. They are often integrated into the architecture. The animals in this exhibition have become metaphors and symbols.

https://nlisus.com/?page_id=8244

Deze kunstenaar heeft nog geen toekenningen.